Meetings set to discuss biennial hunting regulations

Hunting
- Region 5

BILLINGS — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has set six January meetings in south central Montana to discuss tentative hunting regulations for the next two years.

All public meetings in FWP Region 5 will start at 7 p.m. They are scheduled for:

·Jan. 13, 2014 - Roundup Ambulance Barn

·Jan. 14, 2014 - Harlowton Kiwanis Youth Center

·Jan. 15, 2014 - Columbus High School cafeteria

·Jan. 16, 2014 - Big Timber High School cafeteria

·Jan. 20, 2014 - Red Lodge Middle School cafeteria

·Jan. 21, 2014 - Billings Holiday Inn Grand, Bighorn Room

At the meetings, FWP will present proposals to aid the recovery of Montana's declining deer populations by reducing opportunities to harvest of antlerless mule deer and white-tailed deer.

Wildlife managers believe that Montana's deer numbers are in decline statewide due to a number of unique circumstances — from the cyclical nature of mule deer populations to predation to disease, drought and tough winter conditions.

For the next two hunting seasons, with a few exceptions to address game damage issues, FWP proposes to:

·Restrict general mule deer seasons to antlered-only.

·Eliminate most mule deer B, or antlerless, licenses.

·Eliminate white-tailed deer B licenses in most of central and northeastern Montana.

Details on the proposed hunting regulations are available on FWP's website at fwp.mt.gov. Click "2014-2015 Hunting Proposals," The proposals encompass hunting season dates and nearly every huntable species in the state, including antelope, black bear, bighorn sheep, bison, deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, mountain lion, and a variety of upland game birds.

Comments may be submitted at the local meetings or online at fwp.mt.gov. Written comments may be sent to:

FWP Wildlife Bureau

Attn: Public Comment

P.O. Box 200701

Helena, MT 59620-0701

For questions not covered on the website, call 406-444-2612.

Comments are due by 5 p.m. on Jan. 24, 2014. The Fish & Wildlife Commission will take all comments into consideration and adopt final regulations in February.